Behind Closed Doors: An Exploration of Specialized Sexual Behaviors in Urban Women Who Have Sex with Women.Behind Closed Doors: An Exploration of Specialized Sexual Behaviors in Urban Women Who Have Sex with Women Women who have sex with women (WSW) is a term used to identify women who have sex with other women, but may or may not self-identify as lesbian or bisexual. The term includes transwomen. , Lorelei Bonet, David Bimbi, and Julia Tomassilli, Graduate Center of the City University of New York The City University of New York (CUNY; acronym: IPA pronunciation: [kjuni]), is the public university system of New York City. and Center for HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. Educational Studies and Training; Jeffrey T. Parsons, Hunter College, CUNY CUNY City University of New York , and Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training This study aimed to examine the prevalence of specialized sexual behaviors (kink) among urban women who have sex with women and to explore related factors. In the fall of 2003 and spring of 2004, 400 surveys were completed by self-identified women who have sex with women (WSW) at two major lesbian/gay community events in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . The questionnaire assessed demographics, including age at same-gender sexual debut, as well as sexual behaviors, including five specialized sexual behaviors (watersports, bondage, sado-masochism, photo/video exhibitionism exhibitionism /ex·hi·bi·tion·ism/ (ek?si-bish´in-izm) a paraphilia marked by recurrent sexual urges for and fantasies of exposing one's genitals to an unsuspecting stranger. ex·hi·bi·tion·ism n. , and breathplay). The sample was 52.3% White with an average age of 33.93 years (SD = 10.17). More than half the women were currently partnered (58.2%). More than two fifths (42.8%) of participants reported having ever engaged in one of the specialized sexual behaviors at some point in their lives. Bondage was the most prevalent specialized sexual behavior reported (29.0%). Minorities were 2.5 times more likely to report ever having engaged in water sports water sports Urophilia, see there compared to White women; this was the only racial/ethnic difference found among all sexual behaviors examined. WSW who reported any specialized sexual behavior reported a same-gender sexual debut of just over two years earlier compared to WSW with no such sexual experiences (18.55 years vs. 20.92 years old at debut). This finding was also significant for three of the specialized sexual behaviors examined (bondage, sado-masochism, and photo-video exhibitionism). Same-gender sexual debut was similarly related to ever having participated in group sex. Regardless of age at sexual debut, women who reported ever engaging in water sports or group sex were significantly sexually active for more years (17.25 years vs. 12.68 years and 20.42 years vs. 17.32 years, respectively). Further research may uncover the connection between age of same-gender sexual debut and specialized sexual behaviors. |
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